NZ: Fonterra CEO forecasts higher dairy prices

Unusual weather around the world, including the drought this summer in the US, has led Fonterra CEO Theo Spierings to forecast an increase in global dairy prices in the first half of 2013.

Spierings also pointed to weather events in Europe and South America as he predicted higher prices in the early part of next year.

"There has been a persistent, serious drought in the United States. That has pushed up the price of grain, which in turn affects dairy production. There are also concerns about drought in the Ukraine and Russia. In South America, extreme wetness in parts of Brazil and Argentina could also depress wheat production," Spierings said. "Given current global conditions, our forecasting anticipates global dairy prices are likely to move higher in the first half of 2013."

Fonterra chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden said prices had increased by over 17% on average between August and Fonterra's most recent GlobalDairyTrade event, where it auctions dairy commodities. "While there was a drop at last week's GDT event, it has not changed our overall commodity price forecasts," he said.

The company has upped its forecast for its payout to farmers for the 2012/13 season. It predicted a payout range of NZ$5.90-6.00 for a "fully shared-up farmer", up 25% on its previous forecast in August.

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FONTERRA LIFTS 2013 FORECAST PAYOUT

Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited has announced a revised payout forecast range for the 2012/13 season of $5.90 - $6.00 before retentions for a fully shared up farmer, 25 cents up on the previous forecast range.

The Fonterra Board announced:

· a higher forecast Farmgate Milk Price of $5.50 per kilogram of milksolids for the 2012/13 season, up from $5.25 on the previous forecast; and

Fonterra is required to consider its Farmgate Milk Price every quarter as a condition of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA).

Fonterra Chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden said after considering farmer shareholders’ cash flow requirements, and the strength of the Co-operative’s balance sheet after the launch of Trading Among Farmers, the Board had also decided to lift advance rate payments to farmer shareholders.

“The immediate effect of this decision is that our farmers will have more money flowing into their bank accounts from late January when they are paid for the previous month, and that will help them with their cashflows.

“Between 1 August and the most recent GlobalDairyTrade (GDT) trading event, prices have increased by an average 17.7 per cent. While there was a drop at last week’s GDT event, it has not changed our overall commodity price forecasts.”

Chief Executive Theo Spierings said Fonterra’s strong balance sheet meant that from a cash flow point of view the Co-operative was in a position to increase payments to farmers over the next few months without any significant risk to its financial stability.

Mr Spierings said while the outlook for any movements in the New Zealand dollar exchange rate were neutral, the impact of weather events in other markets were likely to support the lift in forecast Farmgate Milk Price.

“There has been a persistent, serious drought in the United States. That has pushed up the price of grain, which in turn affects dairy production. There are also concerns about drought in the Ukraine and Russia. In South America, extreme wetness in parts of Brazil and Argentina could also depress wheat production,” Mr Spierings said.

“Given current global conditions, our forecasting anticipates global dairy prices are likely to move higher in the first half of 2013.”

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